Head of Finnish Church concelebrates with Dumenko in Kyiv

St. Michael’s Cathedral. Photo: OCU

On October 1, 2025, at the “liturgy” of the OCU in St. Michael’s Cathedral, the primate of the Finnish Church of the Ecumenical Patriarchate, Archbishop Leo, concelebrated with Serhiy Dumenko, the OCU website reports.

Also taking part in the event was Archpriest Oleksandr Roshchenko, rector of the Finnish parish in Joensuu. Present in the cathedral were leaders and representatives of Lutheran churches from the Nordic countries.

After the “liturgy,” Dumenko awarded the guests with orders and medals, as well as valuable gifts.

Archbishop Leo received the Order of Prince Volodymyr and a set of panagias. Archpriest Oleksandr was presented with the Medal of Archangel Michael and a personal cross from Dumenko.

Earlier, the UOJ reported that at a meeting with Archbishop Leo and representatives of the Lutheran churches, Dumenko misinformed the guests, claiming that the law banning the UOC had been approved by the Venice Commission.

Read also

Priests and laity of Rivne Eparchy donate blood for children with cancer

In Rivne, the UOC clergy and laity have donated blood for children undergoing treatment for cancer.

Kyiv seminary students meet with People’s Artist Larisa Kadochnikova

Students of Kyiv’s theological schools spoke with the legend of Ukrainian cinema, who shared her memories of filming "Shadows of Forgotten Ancestors".

Bancheny Monastery reports provocation

The UOC monastery in Bancheny has reported a provocation by unidentified individuals.

Romanian Church to hold joint prayer for peace in Ukraine

On the fourth anniversary of the beginning of the war in Ukraine, special prayers for an end to the hostility will be offered in all churches of the Romanian Patriarchate, both in the country and abroad.

Armenian bishops call on authorities to stop Church persecution

At a meeting in Austria, hierarchs of the Armenian Apostolic Church reaffirmed their faithfulness to Catholicos Karekin II of All Armenians and called on the authorities to stop the persecution of the clergy.

Italian media: Ukrainian authorities persecute the country’s largest confession

The Italian outlet L’Identità reported on mass searches, the arrests of clergy, and the ban on the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, which it describes as the largest Church in Ukraine.